TOP-UP FEES FEATURE JOHN Bridge estimates he has spent £80,000 on university educations for his three children.

The retired businessman has seen changes in higher education from when there were grants for poorer students and no fees.

His elder son David studied English at Birmingham University at a time when there were no tuition fees.

David, 24, who is now a solicitor, took out a £2,500 student loan but the rest of his living expenses were financed by his father.

By the time his other son Matthew, 22, did a business management degree at Nottingham University, students had to pay around £1,000 upfront fees no matter what their course was. He also took one student loan and was then funded by his family.

His daughter, 19-year-old Lorna, is in her first year at Durham University doing biochemistry and has taken a £3,500 student loan to help pay for her tuition fees of around £1,100 and living costs which the university estimates is a further £6,000 a year. She is also receiving financial help from her family.

Mr Bridge of Old Town said: "The student loan doesn't cover anywhere near what the actual costs are.

"All my children worked to pay off basic debts in the summer holidays. But even if they worked throughout the breaks they wouldn't have earned enough to bridge the gap between the loan and their actual costs.

"They are fortunate and they recognise that.

"I don't know how students manage when their parents either don't or can't contribute to their education.

"The top up fees wouldn't affect someone like me.

"I would have found the extra £3,000 somehow but I think it would put some people off.

"I can't understand why the Government can't see the fundamental problems with top up fees."